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Dizziness is a sensation of feeling unsteady on your feet or the world moving or spinning around you. Some children use dizzy to describe feeling faint, a little woozy or just strange.

What causes it?

There are a variety of causes for dizziness. One of the most common in children is a viral infection of the inner ear (labyrinthitis) that disturbs the body's balance mechanisms.

Low blood sugar (for example, if a meal is missed) can make a child feel dizzy, as can a hot and stuffy crowded environment, stress and anxiety.

More serious causes include anaemia, infection and epilepsy, particularly a type of epilepsy called petit mal or absences, where the child feels strangely disoriented or unaware of their surroundings and they may describe as dizziness.

Who's affected?

Dizziness is very common - most people experience it occasionally.

What are the symptoms?

The child may complain they feel faint, the room is spinning or they feel wobbly or unsteady. They may also feel nauseous or actually be sick.

They may become pale, sweaty or shaky and fall to the floor unconscious in a faint, which should last no more than a couple of minutes.

There may be symptoms of an infection - such as a fever, headache, sore throat, anaemia, tiredness and paleness.

What's the treatment?

In most cases, dizziness isn't a sign of major illness and may resolve if the child is given food and allowed to sit down in the fresh air, or in a room with an open window.

If the child has a viral infection, they can be given paracetamol or ibuprofen to bring down the fever and should be encouraged to lie down and rest.

If you suspect absences, your doctor will be able to help you establish the diagnosis, although specific treatment, other than reassurance, is rarely needed.

If dizziness persists without an obvious cause, get medical advice.

If the child loses consciousness and doesn't come round within a couple of minutes, if their breathing seems slow or irregular, or if dizziness leads to a seizure (with twitching of the limbs or incontinence) get urgent medical help.

Disclaimer

All Information taken from BBC Health

All content within BBC Health is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. The BBC is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of the BBC Health website. The BBC is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health.

Dizziness is a sensation of feeling unsteady on your feet or the world moving or spinning around you. Some children use dizzy to describe feeling faint, a little woozy or just strange.

What causes it?

There are a variety of causes for dizziness. One of the most common in children is a viral infection of the inner ear (labyrinthitis) that disturbs the body's balance mechanisms.

Low blood sugar (for example, if a meal is missed) can make a child feel dizzy, as can a hot and stuffy crowded environment, stress and anxiety.

More serious causes include anaemia, infection and epilepsy, particularly a type of epilepsy called petit mal or absences, where the child feels strangely disoriented or unaware of their surroundings and they may describe as dizziness.

Who's affected?

Dizziness is very common - most people experience it occasionally.

What are the symptoms?

The child may complain they feel faint, the room is spinning or they feel wobbly or unsteady. They may also feel nauseous or actually be sick.

They may become pale, sweaty or shaky and fall to the floor unconscious in a faint, which should last no more than a couple of minutes.

There may be symptoms of an infection - such as a fever, headache, sore throat, anaemia, tiredness and paleness.

What's the treatment?

In most cases, dizziness isn't a sign of major illness and may resolve if the child is given food and allowed to sit down in the fresh air, or in a room with an open window.

If the child has a viral infection, they can be given paracetamol or ibuprofen to bring down the fever and should be encouraged to lie down and rest.

If you suspect absences, your doctor will be able to help you establish the diagnosis, although specific treatment, other than reassurance, is rarely needed.

If dizziness persists without an obvious cause, get medical advice.

If the child loses consciousness and doesn't come round within a couple of minutes, if their breathing seems slow or irregular, or if dizziness leads to a seizure (with twitching of the limbs or incontinence) get urgent medical help.

Disclaimer

All Information taken from BBC Health

All content within BBC Health is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. The BBC is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of the BBC Health website. The BBC is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health.